Baylor names new athletic director

Sept. 9, 2003

By Jacob Ford, reporter

President Robert B. Sloan Jr. introduced Ian McCaw as Baylor's new athletic director at a press conference Monday at Floyd Casey Stadium. McCaw will begin work in two weeks and relieve interim athletic director David Brooks, chief financial officer. McCaw left the University of Massachusetts, where he presided as athletic director last year, to join Baylor.

McCaw replaces Tom Stanton, who resigned last month after his seventh year in the position as the ninth full-time athletic director at Baylor.

'Those who know him best describe him as a man of great intelligence, a man who is innovative, energetic, competitive and a consummate professional,' Sloan said in his introduction of McCaw. 'He has a reputation as a man of faith, character and integrity, who knows how to solve problems and motivate all of those around him to achieve their very best.'

In only one year at UMass, McCaw began making improvements to the university's athletic program. He initiated a five-year strategic plan that aimed at enhancing diversity, equity, compliance and facility improvements. McCaw implemented the plan with a $2 million renovation of the men's and women's basketball and ice hockey locker facilities during his tenure at UMass.

Within his five-year plan at UMass, McCaw and the athletic program successfully gave the university a new identity. McCaw said he plans to focus his efforts as a successful marketer to Baylor's athletic program as well.

'We are going to take a look at a new identity and branding the athletic program to really sell our assets,' McCaw said. 'We are going to spend a lot of time marketing and communicating [with] the Baylor constituency about all that we have to offer at Baylor University.'

McCaw led the UMass athletic program to not only a successful year in the front office but also on the playing field. The Minuteman football team finished in the top 20 in Division 1-AA, while the men's lacrosse and softball teams advanced in NCAA postseason play. The men's soccer, men's swimming and softball teams won the Atlantic-10 championships.

McCaw placed a special emphasis on creating and maintaining a successful football program at Baylor. He played an active role in previous football programs including the hiring of football coach Tommy Bowden, who led Tulane University to an undefeated season in 1998.

Before McCaw returned to UMass, where he earned his master's degree in sports management, he served as the director of intercollegiate athletics and campus recreation for five years at Northeastern University. At Northeastern McCaw implemented plans to enhance issues relating to sportsmanship, external support, the student-athlete experience and long-term financial stability. Northeastern saw their total revenues in ticket sale, corporate sponsorship and merchandising increase by more than 100 percent.

McCaw spent the first six years of his career, from 1986 to1992, at the University of Maine. While there, he climbed his way up the athletic administration working in four different positions. He started out as the assistant sports information director in 1986, but a year later he was promoted to be the sports information director where he remained until 1990. During the last two years of his stay in Maine, McCaw served as the assistant athletic director for external affairs and the associate athletic director for external affairs.

McCaw's journey continued from Maine to Tulane University where he worked as the senior associate athletic director for development and associate director for external affairs from 1992 to 1997.

Grant Teaff, former Baylor football coach who now serves as the executive director of the American Football Coaches Association, praised Baylor's selection.

'He will be a strong asset to Baylor because of his national involvement in understanding and addressing the challenges facing intercollegiate athletics,' Teaff said.